Archery Arm Guard

ABSTRACT

An archery arm guard includes a guard plate having a generally elongated shape with a wider end and a narrower end. The guard plate has a contoured profile that conforms to the forearm of a user. The arm guard further includes a slap strap fabricated of a bistable spring band and coupled at one end to the guard plate, where the slap strap is operable to quickly snap from a straight configuration to an annular configuration to encircle around the forearm of the user to protect the forearm from direct contact with a bow string.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a sporting equipment, and inparticular to a protective arm guard for the sport of archery.

BACKGROUND

In the sport of archery, the archer typically wears a protective guardon the forearm of the bow-hand to prevent injury from direct contactwith the bow string upon releasing the arrow. These conventional armguards typically include a piece of plastic or leather secured to theforearm using multiple straps with buckle or loop and hook closures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 are top view and side view of a first example embodimentof an archery arm guard according to the teachings of the presentdisclosure;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are top view and side view of a second example embodimentof an archery arm guard according to the teachings of the presentdisclosure;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are top view and side view of a third example embodimentof an archery arm guard according to the teachings of the presentdisclosure;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are top view and side view of a fourth example embodimentof an archery arm guard according to the teachings of the presentdisclosure;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are top view and side view of a fifth example embodimentof an archery arm guard according to the teachings of the presentdisclosure; and

FIG. 11 is an illustration of the archery arm guard secured to anarcher’s forearm and in position to protect the archer’s forearm fromcontact with the released bow string.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Conventional archery arm guards require the user to single-handedlymaneuver the guard to the proper position on the forearm and then tofasten or buckle the multiple straps around the arm while somehow alsoholding the guard in place. This process is not only clumsy but can bechallenging for those users who are less than coordinated. The archeryarm guard described herein can be secured to the user’s forearm nearlyinstantly and can also be removed quickly without having to manipulatebuckles, ties, or other fasteners.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are a top view and side view of a first example embodimentof an archery arm guard 100 that includes a guard plate 102 and a slapstrap 104 coupled to the guard plate 102. The guard plate 102 has agenerally elongated shape having a length along a longitudinal axis 106that is longer than its width. As shown in FIG. 2 , the guard plate 102is preferably contoured to curve along its longitudinal center axis 106so that it has a concave profile that may comfortably conform around thearcher’s forearm as shown in FIG. 9 . The guard plate 102 may befabricated from a suitable material, such as plastic, metal, leather,fabric, nylon, graphite, graphene, polyvinylchloride, or a combinationof these materials. The guard plate 102 may include a number of openings109 arranged about the surface of the guard plate. Because the portionof the guard plate along the medial line may cover the parts of thearcher’s arm that is most likely to make contact with the bow string,the openings 109 are generally arranged along the sides of the medialline portion of the guard plate. These openings 109 helps to increaseair flow to the archer’s forearm and avoids trapping perspirationbetween the arm guard and the wearer’s skin. The openings also help toreduce any unnecessary bulk and weight of the guard plate. As shown inFIG. 1 , the overall shape of the guard plate 102 may include a wide endand a narrow end where the arm guard is fastened to the user’s forearmwith the wide end oriented toward the user’s elbow and the narrow endoriented toward the user’s wrist.

The slap strap 104 is preferably secured at or near one end to the guardplate 102. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the slap strap 104is secured to the guard plate 102 using a fastener 108 that may be anysuitable connector, such as a rivet, snap, threaded fastener, or afriction-fit connector. The dimensions of the friction-fit connector andthe hole are sized so that the connector remains securely attached tothe slap strap 104 under normal usage conditions. The guard plate 102further includes one or more slits 110 and 112 or elongated openingsthat allow the slap strap 104 to pass though and to maintain itsgenerally perpendicular orientation of its longitudinal axis 114 withrespect to the longitudinal axis 106 of the guard plate 102.

The slap strap 104 incorporates the use of an elongated flexiblebistable spring band commonly known as a “slap bracelet” or a “snapbracelet” and enjoys popularity among children and teens as a decorativeaccessory. The characteristic of the slap bracelet is that it caninstantly snap from a substantially straight configuration to an annularconfiguration encircling a wearer’s wrist. Because the slap strap 104will maintain the annular configuration encircling the archer’s forearm,no additional fastener is needed. The slap strap 104 may be fabricatedfrom one or more thin metallic bistable spring bands that are heldtogether or sealed within fabric, silicone, or plastic covering as knownin the art.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a top view and a side view of a second exampleembodiment of an archery arm guard 300 that includes a guard plate 302secured to a slap strap 304 with a fastener 308. The guard plate 302 andthe slap strap 304 have the same general configuration and constructionas the other embodiment described herein. However, the guard plate 302may include a different arrangement of openings 309 about the surface ofthe guard plate 302. The guard plate 302 may include a number ofopenings 309 arranged about the surface of the guard plate 302. Becausethe portion of the guard plate 302 along the medial line may cover theparts of the archer’s arm that is most likely to make contact with thebow string, the openings 309 are generally arranged along the sides ofthe medial line portion of the guard plate 302. The openings 309 helpsto increase air flow to the archer’s forearm and avoid trappingperspiration between the arm guard and the wearer’s skin. The openingsalso help to reduce any unnecessary bulk and weight of the guard plate.

Similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the slap strap 304 ispreferably secured at or near one end to the guard plate 302 using afastener 308 that may be any suitable connector, such as a rivet, snap,threaded fastener, or a friction-fit connector. The guard plate 302further includes one or more slits or elongated openings that allow theslap strap 304 to pass though and to maintain its generallyperpendicular orientation with respect to the longitudinal axis 310 ofthe guard plate 302.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a top view and a side view of a third exampleembodiment of an archery arm guard 500 that includes a guard plate 502secured to a slap strap 504 with a fastener 508. The guard plate 502 andthe slap strap 504 have the same general configuration and constructionas the other embodiment described herein. However, the guard plate 502includes a first guard plate section 512 coupled to a second guard platesection 514 by a substantially linear guard segment 516. As shown inFIG. 5 , the guard plate sections 512 and 514 may be circular regionsbut may have any other suitable shape. The guard plate 502 protects thearcher’s forearm along the medial line as it is most likely to makecontact with the bow string upon release.

Similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the slap strap 504 ispreferably secured at or near one end to the guard plate 502 using afastener 508 that may be any suitable connector, such as a rivet, snap,threaded fastener, or a friction-fit connector. The guard plate 502further includes one or more slits that allow the slap strap 504 to passthough and to maintain its generally perpendicular orientation withrespect to the longitudinal axis 520 of the guard plate 502.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a top view and a side view of a fourth exampleembodiment of an archery arm guard 700 that includes a guard plate 702secured to a slap strap 704 with a fastener 708. The guard plate 702 andthe slap strap 704 have the same general configuration and constructionas the other embodiment described herein. However, the guard plate 702includes an elongated guard plate section 714 coupled to a second guardplate section 716. As shown in FIG. 7 , the guard plate sections 714 mayinclude a linear segment and a circular guard plate section 716, but theguard plate sections may have any other suitable shape. The guard plate702 protects the archer’s forearm along the medial line as it is mostlikely to make contact with the bow string upon release.

Similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the slap strap 704 ispreferably secured at or near one end to the guard plate 702 using afastener 708 that may be any suitable connector, such as a rivet, snap,threaded fastener, or a friction-fit connector. The guard plate 702further includes one or more slits or elongated openings that allow theslap strap 704 to pass though and to maintain its generallyperpendicular orientation with respect to the longitudinal axis 720 ofthe guard plate 702.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show a top view and a side view of a fifth exampleembodiment of an archery arm guard 900 that includes a guard plate 902secured to a slap strap 904 with a fastener 908. The guard plate 902 andthe slap strap 704 may have the same general configuration andconstruction as the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-8 and described above.However, the guard plate 902 may have a rectangular shape with andwithout openings. The guard plate 902 protects the archer’s forearmalong the medial line as it is most likely to make contact with the bowstring upon release.

Similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-8 , the slap strap 904 ispreferably secured at or near one end to the guard plate 902 using afastener 908 that may be any suitable connector, such as a rivet, snap,threaded fastener, or friction-fit connector. The guard plate 902further includes one or more slit or elongated opening 910 that allowsthe slap strap 904 to pass though and to maintain its generallyperpendicular orientation with respect to the longitudinal axis 920 ofthe guard plate 902.

Referring to FIG. 11 showing an illustration of the arm guard 100secured to the forearm of the archer’s bow-hand. To fasten the arm guardto the archer’s arm, the user may hold the arm guard with the fastener108 held between the thumb and the index finger, while the slap strap104 is in its straight configuration. The user may then “slap” the slapstrap 104 across the forearm of the bow-hand, which causes the slapstrap 104 to quickly snap to its annular configuration and wrap aroundthe user’s forearm. The slap strap may be easily slipped off of theuser’s arm to remove the arm guard.

It should be noted that the attachment point of the slap strap to theguard plate may vary from that shown in the figures, and the manner ofattachment may employ any suitable known device and method. It shouldalso be noted that the arm guard described herein can be used to shieldthe forearm for applications other than archery.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel areset forth below with particularity in the appended claims. However,modifications, variations, and changes to the exemplary embodimentsdescribed above will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and thearchery arm guard described herein thus encompasses such modifications,variations, and changes and are not limited to the specific embodimentsdescribed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. An archery arm guard comprising: a guard platehaving a generally elongated shape and having a contoured profile thatconforms to a forearm of a user; and a slap strap fabricated of abistable spring band and coupled at one end to the guard plate, wherethe slap strap is operable to quickly snap from a straight configurationto an annular configuration to encircle around the forearm of the userto secure the guard plate on the forearm.
 2. The arm guard of claim 1,wherein the slap strap is encased in at least one material selected fromthe group consisting of fabric, silicone, and plastic.
 3. The arm guardof claim 1, wherein the guard plate is constructed of at least onematerial selected from the group consisting of plastic, metal, leather,fabric, nylon, graphite, graphene, and polyvinylchloride.
 4. The armguard of claim 1, wherein the guard plate has a concave profile along alongitudinal center axis thereof.
 5. The arm guard of claim 4, whereinthe slap strap is coupled to the guard plate by a fastener.
 6. The armguard of claim 5, wherein the guard plate further has at least one slitpositioned in general alignment with the fastener to enable the slapstrap to pass therethrough to maintain its generally perpendicularorientation to the longitudinal center axis of the guard plate.
 7. Thearm guard of claim 1, wherein the guard plate has defined therein aplurality of openings arranged in a predetermined pattern.
 8. The armguard of claim 1, wherein the guard plate has a wide end and a narrowend.
 9. An archery arm guard comprising: a guard plate having agenerally elongated shape with a wider end and a narrower end, the guardplate having a contoured profile that conforms to a forearm of a user;and a slap strap fabricated of a bistable spring band and coupled at oneend to the guard plate proximate its wider end, where the slap strap isoperable to quickly snap from a straight configuration to an annularconfiguration to encircle around the forearm of the user to protect theforearm from direct contact with a bow string.
 10. The arm guard ofclaim 9, wherein the slap strap is encased in at least one materialselected from the group consisting of fabric, silicone, and plastic. 11.The arm guard of claim 9, wherein the guard plate is constructed of atleast one material selected from the group consisting of plastic, metal,leather, fabric, nylon, graphite, graphene, and polyvinylchloride. 12.The arm guard of claim 9, wherein the guard plate has a concave profilealong a longitudinal center axis thereof.
 13. The arm guard of claim 12,wherein the slap strap is coupled to the guard plate by a fastener. 14.The arm guard of claim 13, wherein the guard plate has at least oneelongated opening positioned in general alignment with the fastener toenable the slap strap to pass therethrough to maintain its generallyperpendicular orientation to the longitudinal center axis of the guardplate.
 15. The arm guard of claim 9, wherein the guard plate has definedtherein a plurality of openings arranged about the guard plate.
 16. Anarm guard comprising: an elongated guard plate; and a slap strapfabricated of a bistable spring band and coupled to the guard plate,where the slap strap is operable to quickly snap from a straightconfiguration to an annular configuration to encircle around the forearmof the user to secure the guard plate on the forearm.
 17. The arm guardof claim 16, wherein the guard plate is constructed of at least onematerial selected from the group consisting of plastic, metal, leather,fabric, nylon, graphite, graphene, and polyvinylchloride.
 18. The armguard of claim 16, wherein the guard plate has defined therein aplurality of openings arranged in a predetermined pattern.
 19. The armguard of claim 16, wherein the guard plate has a concave profile along alongitudinal center axis thereof.
 20. The arm guard of claim 16, whereinthe slap strap is coupled to the guard plate by a fastener.